LAS VEGAS -- The Golden Knights [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/vegas-golden-knights] are set to face the Minnesota Wild [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/minnesota-wild] in the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs, continuing what's been an awfully close series since Vegas entered the league in 2017. In the 35 meetings, both in the regular season and the playoffs, Vegas has won 20 times, with a 20-14-1 mark to show for it. This will mark the second playoff series after the teams met during the postseason of the abbreviated campaign in 2021. <i>Golden Knights left wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) skates with the puck as Wild center Yakov Trenin (13) defends during the second period of an NHL game at Xcel Energy Center on March 25, 2025. <b>Photo Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images</b></i> [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/f3aefdac-55e8-4576-a322-f292ed782452.jpeg] <i>Golden Knights left wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) skates with the puck as Wild center Yakov Trenin (13) defends during the second period of an NHL game at Xcel Energy Center on March 25, 2025. <b>Photo Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images</b></i> Here is our top five all-time meetings between the Wild and Golden Knights: 5. Feb. 9, 2023: Vegas 5, Minnesota 1 - Though Marc-Andre Fleury had already faced the Golden Knights as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, this would be the first time Vegas would see its former netminder as a member of the Wild. The Knights arrived in St. Paul at the right time, as the Wild had lost two straight and five of seven. It was the start of a seven-game homestand for Minnesota, while Vegas was looking to build momentum at the end of a six-game road trip that saw them lose four of the first five. Vegas opened a 2-0 lead before Kirill Kaprizov scored a power-play goal in the second period to cut the Knights' lead in half. But Vegas would respond later in the period with three goals over a span of 2:26 to provide the final margin. 4. March 25, 2025: Vegas 5, Minnesota 1 - After the Knights struggled through a rough patch in January and early February, they muddled their way into late March, having lost 16 of 27 (11-11-5). But a three-game homestand sweep sent them on the road for three games, beginning in St. Paul. Vegas would maintain its momentum thanks to Jack Eichel's hat trick - all three coming against former Knight Marc-Andre Fleury. Just like two years earlier against Fleury, in the same arena, the Knights took a 2-0 lead before the Wild cut the deficit in half. But three late third-period goals in a span of 2:31 gave the Knights a four-goal advantage and extended their win streak to four games. Vegas would go on to win its next two on the road and return home with a six-game win streak. 3. Oct. 6, 2018: Vegas 2, Minnesota 1 - The Knights lost their first three meetings with the Wild, all in an inaugural season that saw Vegas land in the Stanley Cup Final. Minnesota was one of only two teams in the NHL that the Knights didn't beat in their first-ever season. After opening their second-ever season with a home loss to Philadelphia, the Knights started a five-game road trip in St. Paul, and the teams would end up in overtime. And after a combined five unsuccessful attempts from both teams, Erik Haula beat Devan Dubnyk in the sixth overall attempt of the shootout to give Vegas its first win of the season and first-ever victory over the Wild. 2. May 26, 2021: Minnesota 3, Vegas 0 - The Knights took a 3-1 series lead in the opening round of their seven-game series, which featured partially filled arenas due to the pandemic that shut down America a year prior. But after losing Game 5 at home, 4-2, the Knights hoped to close things out in St. Paul and avoid their third-ever Game 7. The Wild had other plans, however. Ryan Hartman, Kevin Fiala and Nick Bjugstad scored third-period goals on Fleury, while Cam Talbot would stop all 23 shots he faced to record his second shutout of the series to force a decisive Game 7. 1. May 28, 2021: Vegas 6, Minnesota 2 - After blowing their 3-1 series lead, the last thing the Knights wanted to do was lose Game 7 at home. The teams fought to a 1-1 tie after one period. Nic Hague gave the Knights a 2-1 lead just 2:05 into the second period, but Kaprizov's power-play goal at the 4:35 mark tied the game again. Unfortunately for the Wild, it would be their last goal of the season. Vegas got goals from Max Pacioretty and Zach Whitecloud to close the second, while Mattias Janmark scored two more in the third to complete the hat trick and give the Knights a 6-2 win and the series. Stay updated with the most interesting Golden Knights stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwiNvfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] to never miss a story.
